The Social Archeology Channel

Always moist, always yummy, always with precisely seven squiggles of white icing atop a bed of chocolate icing, filled with a dollop of rich vanilla cream. That’s right, it’s the chocolatey goodness that could only be a Hostess Cupcake, a treat coveted by every youth that ever set eyes on that squiggly stripe that distinguished it from all other inferior cupcakes. And only time will tell if we ever see these beloved snacks occupy a store shelf again. Continue reading...

More often than not, a product mascot is a figment of the imagination of some advertising executive. But once in a while, you get the real deal, such as Ettore Boiardi, better known by the phonetic spelling of his last name, Chef Boyardee. Though he has long since passed, his culinary creations have delighted parents and children alike for their simplicity and flavor for nearly a century. Continue reading...

Saturday morning shows weren't known for their longevity, with only a handful ever lasting more than a season or two. But with a collection of beloved Warner Brothers characters and cartoons at their disposal, The Bugs Bunny Show kicked off the festivities in grand fashion each week - for an astounding four decades. Continue reading...

Andy Gibb was the youngest scion of the 1970s ruling music family, the Bee Gees. The Anglo-Australian clan dominated the pop charts during that decade and helped their little brother achieve rightful fame on his own. Not just another token teen idol, Andy also co-wrote the songs and played his own instruments. And then he left us too soon. Continue reading...

The Muppets were able to turn their humble beginning on the long-running children’s educational show, Sesame Street, into their own highly successful television show, and eventually a few box office successes as well. At some point, Big Bird must have thought, “If they can do it, so can I,” so he took his own stab at film stardom in the 1985 feature film, Sesame Street Presents Follow That Bird. Continue reading...

Battling herds of enemy robots was an interesting enough premise for a video game. And without any sound effects, Berzerk, released in 1980, would likely have still been popular simply for being an action-packed shooting game. But add in a talking robot voice and suddenly the game stands out from all the others surrounding it, beckoning one to play. Continue reading...

One of the first big hits to emerge on the up-and-coming Nickelodeon cable channel, You Can't Do That On Television (YCDTOTV) quickly endeared itself to young viewers with its bathroom-humor-laced sketch comedy performed by kids. But the show will always be best remembered for introducing the young populace to green slime, a substance that is now a trademark for the Nickelodeon brand, thanks to this long-running series that was required daily viewing for many an 80s kid. Continue reading...

Inventing a new candy can be somewhat akin to reinventing the wheel, but when Pop Rocks exploded onto the market in the 70s, they were unlike any confection that preceded them. Word-of-mouth quickly propelled them to the top of the "must have" list among young consumers, and also contributed to one of the most fanciful urban legends of all time. We'll get to that in a moment but first, let's take a look back at the origins of this effervescent treat. Continue reading...